Olympic gymnast to speak at graduation

This year’s graduation speaker is an Olympic athlete, businessman and philanthropist.

Bart Conner will speak at the undergraduate commencement ceremony May 7 in Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. 

“Gymnasts don’t always come to mind when you think of a graduation speaker,” Conner said. “But the important thing to learn when I do speak is that I have taken my life as a gymnast and built upon it for this wonderful life. I hope I can relay that it’s okay to stray from the path to the students who are about to embark on their new lives.”

Conner grew up near Chicago where he became involved in gymnastics when he was about 10 years old. Conner was a member of three Olympic Teams in 1976, 1980 and 1984. He won two gold medals during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, one as a member of the U.S. team and the other with a perfect score on the parallel bars.

“I was three years out of high school and thrilled to actually accomplish something at the Olympics,” Conner said. “I didn’t even get to go during my second Olympics because it was boycotted by the U.S., but the third Olympics were just amazing.”

Conner earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1984 from University of Oklahoma in Norman. While at OU, he earned 14 National Collegiate Athletic Association All-American honors and led his team to two NCAA team titles.

“I was on the eight-year plan due to gymnastics,” Conner said. “My last couple years I was taking one class per semester, so it was pretty easy.”

Conner was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1991 and into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2006, Conner’s 1984 Olympic Gold medal winning team was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Conner now serves as the president and chairman of the board of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

“I’m tempted to say wait and see on why I chose him,” President Robert Henry said. “But Bart Connor is an inspiration, Olympic athlete, diplomat, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveler.”

Conner does commentary for ESPN and is the co-producer of International Gymnast Magazine, along with his wife Nadia Comaneci, Romanian Olympic gymnast. Comaneci won nine Olympic medals competing in the 1976 and 1980 games. Together, they own the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy, 3206 Bart Conner Drive in Norman, which is one of the largest gymnastics centers in the U.S., according to bartconnergymnastics.com. They also serve as members of the board of directors of Special Olympics.

“I have always had a place for philanthropy and young athletes in my heart,” Conner said. “If I can help them, then I think that is enough.’

Henry said he tries to find a speaker who can speak to students as well as other generations.

“Although graduation is mostly about students, it is also a family event involving those greatest of familial members, grandparents,” Henry said. “ I try to find a speaker of intellect and import who can speak primarily to students, but also to a couple of other generations.  It is really an important family time, in my books.”